DEZ BRYANT LED MANY TO A FANTASY TITLE

Bob Lung, Staff WriterDecember 28, 2012

Dez Bryant led many Fantasy teams to titles this past weekend. This includes my own team. It was my only championship, however, which was disappointing. My more powerful teams failed in either the semi-finals or the finals. I made the playoffs in seven out of 11 leagues, but only won one title. It did earn about $700, so no whining here.

Each week this season, the Quality Games Review will be here to assist you. It should help you see who is performing above average to help your team win, along with those who may be hurting your chances. As the year goes on, consistency trends will start to show the players that are becoming consistent performers and those who are one-week wonders.

The Quality Game Score is the awarding of a Quality Game to a player each week when they exceed the average points scored in your league for that position. The more Quality Games a player is awarded each year, the more consistent that player is, and the more beneficial they are to your Fantasy team. The scoring method used will be a standard PPR format, with four points for passing touchdowns and six for all others.

So, let’s begin the review…

Quarterbacks – (Quality Game Factor – 18.27)

Quality Game Earners – Week 16

Rank

Player

Team

Score

1

Tony Romo

DAL

36.80

2

Aaron Rodgers

GB

36.20

3

Drew Brees

NO

34.20

4

Matt Ryan

ATL

32.45

5

Joe Flacco

BAL

28.45

6

Peyton Manning

DEN

27.95

7

Russell Wilson

SEA

26.45

8

Cam Newton

CAR

23.50

9

Matthew Stafford

DET

21.35

10

Nick Foles

PHI

21.25

11

Chad Henne

JAX

20.60

12

Josh Freeman

TB

20.40

13

Tom Brady

NE

19.35

14

Ryan Tannehill

MIA

18.90

15

Colin Kaepernick

SF

18.30

THE EXPECTED

Most of the stud and reliable quarterbacks came through for their Fantasy owners during championship week. It was rookies like Griffin and Luck who failed. Eli Manning failed again. Matt Ryan also made his owners happy this week and a fourth place performance.

THE UNEXPECTED

Russell Wilson stayed hot, as did Colin Kaepernick and Chad Henne. Ryan Tannehill had his first back-to-back Quality Games of the season. Nick Foles played well but was injured which should allow Mike Vick to start this week.

Here is a group of those bad surprises; quarterbacks who didn’t earn a Quality Game this week. Some top names here this week. Their Fantasy owners cannot be happy about this.

Rank

Player

Team

Score

17

Robert Griffin III

WAS

17.30

20

Philip Rivers

SD

16.65

21

Andrew Luck

IND

16.35

22

Ben Roethlisberger

PIT

13.30

23

Eli Manning

NYG

12.30

25

Jay Cutler

CHI

12.10

26

Andy Dalton

CIN

11.90

29

Matt Schaub

HOU

8.90

36

Carson Palmer

OAK

1.55

Consistency Leaders – YTD – Quarterbacks

Player Name

Total Points

Rank

Total QG

Total GP

QSR

Tom Brady

374.35

2

14

15

93%

Drew Brees

382.55

1

13

15

87%

Peyton Manning

341.85

6

12

15

80%

Cam Newton

361.75

4

11

15

73%

Matt Ryan

350.75

5

11

15

73%

Matthew Stafford

320.55

10

11

15

73%

Robert GriffinIII

341.55

7

10

14

71%

Aaron Rodgers

363.80

3

10

15

67%

Tony Romo

330.15

8

10

15

67%

Andrew Luck

325.55

9

10

15

67%

Josh Freeman

291.55

12

10

15

67%

Carson Palmer

279.50

15

10

15

67%

Andy Dalton

299.15

11

9

15

60%

Ben Roethlisberger

242.30

21

7

12

58%

Russell Wilson

291.50

13

8

15

53%

Joe Flacco

283.35

14

8

15

53%

Eli Manning

258.00

17

8

15

53%

Tom Brady stands alone at a 93 percent QSR. Drew Brees and Peyton Manning are the only other quarterbacks over 80 percent. The consistency at quarterback this season is down compared to prior year when there were four quarterbacks over an 80 percent QSR and six over a 75 percent QSR.

Running Backs – (Quality Game Factor – 10.35)

Quality Game Earners – Week 16

Rank

Player

Team

Score

1

Reggie Bush

MIA

32.70

2

Jamaal Charles

KC

30.00

3

Ray Rice

BAL

27.80

4

Marshawn Lynch

SEA

27.00

5

Ryan Grant

GB

24.40

6

Darren Sproles

NO

22.20

7

Shonn Greene

NYJ

22.00

8

C.J. Spiller

BUF

21.30

9

LeSean McCoy

PHI

21.20

10

Pierre Thomas

NO

20.70

11

Doug Martin

TB

18.90

12

Alfred Morris

WAS

17.80

13

Knowshon Moreno

DEN

17.70

14

Joique Bell

DET

17.30

15

Matt Forte

CHI

16.50

16

Montell Owens

JAX

15.90

17

Mikel Leshoure

DET

15.60

18

Steven Jackson

STL

14.70

19

DeMarco Murray

DAL

13.10

20

Mark Ingram

NO

13.00

21

Danny Woodhead

NE

12.50

22

Bernard Pierce

BAL

12.30

23

Toby Gerhart

MIN

10.60

THE EXPECTED

Reggie Bush floats between the Expected and Unexpected list more than any running back in the NFL. Jamaal Charles helped those Fantasy owners who started him after his horrible game in Week 15. LeSean McCoy didn’t miss a beat from his concussion. First week back and he’s ninth overall.

THE UNEXPECTED

Ryan Grant finally gave Packers’ fans something to cheer about regarding the running game inGreen Baythis week and an excellent performance. Knowshon Moreno earned his fifth straight Quality Game this past weekend. Toby Gerhart’s vulture touchdown has earned him a place on the Adrian Peterson owners’ hit list.

Below is a list of some of the top running backs in football that did not earn a Quality Game this week. Arian Foster and Adrian Peterson shattered many a Fantasy dream this past weekend.

Rank

Player

Team

Score

25

Adrian Peterson

MIN

10.00

26

Trent Richardson

CLE

9.80

27

Michael Turner

ATL

9.70

30

Stevan Ridley

NE

8.40

32

Darren McFadden

OAK

7.80

38

DeAngelo Williams

CAR

6.80

41

Chris Johnson

TEN

6.10

44

Ahmad Bradshaw

NYG

5.70

45

William Powell

ARI

5.70

48

Arian Foster

HOU

4.90

61

Frank Gore

SF

2.80

65

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

CIN

2.40

86

Beanie Wells

ARI

0.30

Consistency Leaders – YTD – Running Backs

Player Name

Total Points

Rank

Total QG

Total GP

QSR

LeSean McCoy

186.70

16

11

11

100%

DeMarco Murray

137.80

28

9

9

100%

Adrian Peterson

314.30

1

14

15

93%

Arian Foster

282.90

3

14

15

93%

Ray Rice

282.60

4

14

15

93%

Marshawn Lynch

258.20

5

13

15

87%

Doug Martin

286.60

2

12

15

80%

C.J. Spiller

238.20

7

12

15

80%

Darren Sproles

192.10

14

9

12

75%

Trent Richardson

254.70

6

11

15

73%

Alfred Morris

213.10

9

11

15

73%

Matt Forte

202.00

11

10

14

71%

Mikel Leshoure

175.50

20

9

13

69%

Frank Gore

207.70

10

10

15

67%

Steven Jackson

181.60

17

10

15

67%

Darren McFadden

146.60

24

7

11

64%

Jamaal Charles

236.20

8

9

15

60%

Reggie Bush

201.90

12

9

15

60%

Chris Johnson

201.40

13

9

15

60%

Stevan Ridley

188.00

15

9

15

60%

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

175.80

19

9

15

60%

Michael Turner

169.30

21

9

15

60%

With Adrian Peterson and Arian Foster both missing their first Quality Game of the year, LeSean McCoy and DeMarco Murray stayed perfect with fewer games. Peterson, Foster and Rice are all three tied for second with a 93 percent QSR.

James Jones leads the NFL in touchdown receptions with 13. This is amazing when you realize he only has 58 receptions for the season. Justin Blackmon earned six Quality Games out his last eight games and depending on the quarterback next season, could be a nice sleeper.

Here is the list of top wide receivers that didn’t earn a Quality Game this week. The list is huge again this week! Victor Cruz has certainly not been anywhere near as consistent as last season.

Rank

Player

Team

Score

42

Michael Crabtree

SF

10.50

50

Stevie Johnson

BUF

8.40

68

T.Y. Hilton

IND

5.40

72

Darrius Heyward-Bey

OAK

5.10

74

Victor Cruz

NYG

5.10

94

Danny Amendola

STL

2.50

100

Mike Wallace

PIT

2.20

119

Hakeem Nicks

NYG

0.00

Consistency Leaders – YTD – Wide Receivers

Player Name

Total Points

Rank

Total QG

Total GP

QSR

Brandon Marshall

325.60

2

13

15

87%

A.J. Green

296.20

3

13

15

87%

Demaryius Thomas

270.00

5

13

15

87%

Reggie Wayne

262.00

8

13

15

87%

Calvin Johnson

333.20

1

12

15

80%

Dez Bryant

288.60

4

12

15

80%

Randall Cobb

235.60

14

12

15

80%

Antonio Brown

165.50

34

9

12

75%

Wes Welker

265.90

7

11

15

73%

Vincent Jackson

250.40

11

11

15

73%

Steve Smith

205.80

18

11

15

73%

Miles Austin

195.30

22

11

15

73%

James Jones

208.20

17

10

14

71%

Cecil Shorts

193.50

23

10

14

71%

Danny Amendola

139.70

49

7

10

70%

Andre Johnson

269.70

6

10

15

67%

Julio Jones

253.20

10

10

15

67%

Victor Cruz

240.00

13

10

15

67%

Marques Colston

234.20

15

10

15

67%

Stevie Johnson

201.50

19

10

15

67%

Lance Moore

189.00

24

9

14

64%

DeSean Jackson

126.30

56

7

11

64%

Roddy White

259.90

9

9

15

60%

Eric Decker

242.80

12

9

15

60%

Michael Crabtree

213.10

16

9

15

60%

Mike Wallace

195.50

21

9

15

60%

Brandon Lloyd

187.20

25

9

15

60%

There are four receivers now tied at an 87 percent QSR. Nobody stands out like Randall Cobb on this list. He was drafted either late or not at all and could end the season tied for the second most Quality Games of the season. Unbelievable!

Tight Ends – (Quality Game Factor – 9.40)

Quality Game Earners – Week 16

Rank

Player

Team

Score

1

Lance Kendricks

STL

21.90

2

Jimmy Graham

NO

15.80

3

Delanie Walker

SF

15.40

4

Kyle Rudolph

MIN

12.90

5

Antonio Gates

SD

12.40

6

Jermichael Finley

GB

12.00

7

Jason Witten

DAL

12.00

8

Greg Olsen

CAR

11.30

9

Dennis Pitta

BAL

9.60

THE EXPECTED

It’s a slow week for tight ends this week. Only nine tight ends earned a Quality Game and most of them didn’t earn higher than a 50 percent QSR for the year. Jimmy Graham took the second spot and rebounded nicely after a semi-slow start. Antonio Gates frustrated so many Fantasy owners this year, so let’s hope this good game this past weekend helped their teams win a championship.

THE UNEXPECTED

Dennis Pitta earns his third straight Quality Game. Lance Kendricks had a career game during Fantasy title week. Now, the real questions is, “Did anyone start him?” I’m assuming no.

Here are the top tight ends that didn’t earn a Quality Game this week. Tony Gonzalez hurt some Fantasy owners this week and a disappearing act during a big week.

Rank

Player

Team

Score

14

Heath Miller

PIT

7.50

16

Dallas Clark

TB

7.30

19

Brent Celek

PHI

6.90

20

Jermaine Gresham

CIN

6.80

25

Owen Daniels

HOU

5.70

26

Joel Dreessen

DEN

5.20

29

Brandon Myers

OAK

4.00

31

Vernon Davis

SF

3.70

39

Aaron Hernandez

NE

2.30

41

Tony Gonzalez

ATL

1.90

Consistency Leaders – YTD – Tight Ends

Player Name

Total Points

Rank

Total QG

Total GP

QSR

Jason Witten

213.30

2

13

15

87%

Jimmy Graham

210.70

3

12

14

86%

Rob Gronkowski

186.80

5

8

10

80%

Aaron Hernandez

120.40

19

6

8

75%

Tony Gonzalez

224.90

1

10

15

67%

Heath Miller

200.60

4

10

15

67%

Jermaine Gresham

166.70

9

10

15

67%

Brandon Pettigrew

128.40

15

8

12

67%

Owen Daniels

163.90

10

9

14

64%

Greg Olsen

175.00

6

9

15

60%

Brandon Myers

174.30

7

9

15

60%

Kyle Rudolph

152.30

11

9

15

60%

Dennis Pitta

169.90

8

8

15

53%

There are only three tight ends over an 80 percent QSR, showing that tight ends are not real consistent. Remember that next year when you’re thinking about drafting a tight end before the fifth round.

There is your Week 16 lists of Quality Games earned. Start watching these Quality rankings to find your next gem on the waiver wire, and then let me know how they work out in your drive towards the championship!

As I mentioned above, the Fantasy players on the teams in these Quality Matchups have a much higher rate of performing above average in comparison to the other players at that position.

Bob has been playing Fantasy Football since 1985 and began his Fantasy
football writing career at RotoJunkie in 2001. He has progressed through a number of other Fantasy sites like CreativeSports, FoxSports and Fanball. He has been writing for RotoExperts.com for the past two seasons and is best known for sharing his Fantasy football consistency knowledge (known as the Quality Game
Scores) with the readers and listeners on the RotoExperts website and on The Fantasy Sports Channel (Sirius Radio 210 or XM 87). Bob was born and raised and continues to live in Canton, Ohio with his wife of over 20 years and his three daughters. Bob can be reached at blung@rotoexperts.com and on Twitter: @RotoExpertsBobL